Just got a QSL card in the mail. A freaking Begali ad with the op's info on a self-adhesive label!! Am I supposed to waste a QSL card and a postage stamp replying? I'm not a cheapskate, I'll respond to someone's computer printout attempts, but this just seems kinda lazy. Perhaps a lack of initiative or creativity?

I'm tempted to just stick a label over the info, write in my callsign, and send it back.

The purpose of a QSL card is to confirm a contact, nothing more. Is the card for a legit QSO? Is it a new one for you?

If the answer to either is YES, then send a card. If the answer to either is NO, then throw it in the trash and go back to whatever you were doing when the Letter Carrier delivered the card.

I have cards hand-written on the back of regular post cards, I have similar cards with adhesive labels. I have one card written on a piece of a brown paper bag because I needed it for WAS and the guy was out of printed cards.

Personally, your situation is much ado about nothing.

Logged

A smoking section in a restaurant makes as much sense as a peeing section in a swimming pool.

When I was contesting, I sent out thousands of cards with nothing but an adhesive label. Nobody complained, and I suspect that more than a few of those cards were submitted for various awards. Most DXpeditions prefer cards with labels, at least they are legible.

Some folks make more than a handful of contacts per year and cannot afford the time to write a loveletter for every QSO. This guy took the time, effort and expense to send you an unsolicited QSL card and you call him "kinda lazy?"

NK6Q:"I'm tempted to just stick a label over the info, write in my callsign, and send it back."

You're free to do that. I've done exactly that with QSLs with idiotic religious tracts on them. Talk about unwanted advertising.

Bill, the label thing is just another way computers have automated the shack. Many logging programs can print them out. As far as the card goes, I've always enjoyed designing my own cards but not everyone has the resources or inclination to do so. Some don't QSL at all.

Now that I've finally, finally gotten cards from all 50 states for WAS CW, I'm concentrating on Logbook of the World. I wish more hams, particularly DX hams, would join up and use it.

I'll always have my own cards on hand to send out but if I need one for a confirmation, I don't much care what it looks like.

Bill,Nothing new or out of line here. Even 40 years ago, hams sent QSL cards out that displayed various pieces of equipment that they were fond of. I remember getting cards with photos of a Collins S-Line, a new Mosley tri-bander, etc. This is not "over the line". It merely says "here is something I really appreciate" in my hobby and would like you to see how beautiful it is (BTW, I have a Begali key and treasure it too). Some of those cards are still in my collection today (and they are more meaningful to me than the ones of some guy's dog or cat or grandkids....no offense to them).

The op that you received the Begali qsl card from had to purchase a Begali key or paddle, to receive these cards. So was this a CW contact? If so after 40 years of of being off the air, I would say you are doing a great job. If this was a SSB contact, then cut your mic cord and throw the mic away.

I have a few Begali paddles and I receive a hand full of Begali ad qsl card each year. I see nothing wrong with it. The op who sent you this special card wanted you to know about one of the best keys and paddles made for cw in today's world. Once you own one, you will never be able to use any other brand.

I think I have maybe 1 or 2 cards that have actual advertisements for completely unrelated things on them. It was still a QSL and a confirmation for me so it's saved in the collection of QSL's. Many QSL's these days have the printed label with QSO details which make it easier for grinding out QSL's - especially for QSL managers or DX stations who get thousands of cards in. Also, I get QSL's alot with "stuffers" in the envelope for QSL printing or to join a DX association. These mostly come from DXpedition QSL's. It doesn't bother me. Most of the time those "stuffers" head for the circular file. I generally send a few extra dollars on top of what they ask for anyways.

I'm not sure if the ham's QSL had an actual Begali ad complete with website, etc or if it was simply their Begali key that they enjoy. I happen to think Begali makes a very nice key, they are a joy to use.

I only qsl direct, and so if I receive a card it is respected, as is its sender.Whether the card is simple or complex, cheap or expensive, is not important - just that the OM at the other end made the extra effort to send it to me.In return, I always send a return qsl, whether postage has been included or not.I hand make each of my QSL cards, and always write a little message of thanks.Sometimes, in these busy days, we may understandably forget the little courtesies in our drive to achieve goals.It does not make us ogres, only human.

There have been generic QSL cards printed as advertising for a great many years, nothing new. Usually they are just pictures, no text with them. Hams would stamp their calls on them. Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood all have printed them at least in the past to showcase their gear and would give you some for the asking although they would limit the amount to 50 or 100 or around that amount. Even some airlines printed them, pictures of airplanes complete with the report on the backside.Photo QSL cards used to be very pricey to get printed before personal computers were around.

Most cards end up in a box in a closet anyway so who cares?!

If it is a new entity, you can use a potato stamp or a crayon to fill it out, I don't care!

Sometimes, in these busy days, we may understandably forget the little courtesies in our drive to achieve goals.It does not make us ogres, only human.

Which is good, because ogres don't usually QSL worth a darn. ;-)

I've got a QSL advertising an airline--beautiful 1950s image of a four-engined prop airliner. The airline apparently gave them to their employees who were hams. I think it's great, personally. Something different!

I also love getting homemade QSLs--again, they're something different from the usual.

Qsl can be a chore, or fun. I like getting them and always send back a card if requested. It is legal to make a sticker or even just write "confirmed by kx6abc " on the card and return it. Mostly I have always sent my own custom card backand I can usually get 1000 custom cards ( I use UX5UO ) for around 65 bucks, and you can get them cheaper if you just want plain cards with no pictures on them. You can even find programs to print your own cards on the computer. QSL is like sending a thankyou note when you get a gift. it's just common ham courtesy.

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